Shod versus barefoot walking - an ongoing debate!

Abstract

Wearing shoes is second nature in modern society. However, in recent years, barefoot movement is gaining popularity among health-conscious individuals who are shunning shoes altogether. From a biomechanical point of view, the foot is one of the least understood structures of the human body. Research studies and debates on the effects of shoes on the feet are ongoing across the globe. Many researchers have concluded that people did, in fact, have feet that were in better physical condition prior to the invention of shoes. A study examined 180 modern humans from three different population groups (Sotho, Zulu, and European), comparing their feet, and to the feet of 2,000-year-old skeletons. The researchers concluded that, prior to the invention of shoes, people had healthier feet. Among the modern subjects, the Zulu population, which often goes barefoot, had the healthiest feet whilst the European, who are habitual shoe-wearers had the unhealthiest feet. However, expert opinions with regards to this subject matter are divided and depend largely on the specialized area of the expert in question. [Excerpt]